Transformation & Return
We’ve been writing about the Hero’s Journey, which is the framework for our Mastermind series where, as one participant told us, “Rarely do you get the chance to ponder and reflect on your own quest, and it’s really made an impact. It’s helped me personally and professionally.”
This month, we explore the hero’s Transformation and Return: the opportunity to take what he or she has learned in the quest, and to bring this learning back to others.
Transformation can be scary. It’s a leap into the unknown. It’s about change: changing your perspective, or changing your actions. We’re all facing a transformation of sorts right now. So much of the work we do is to help people identify the transformation in their lives, and to facilitate that transformation with ease and grace: to be more reflective, more aware, and more awake.
At its core, transformation is about letting go: letting go of the stories, patterns, beliefs that may have held us back, letting go of outdated stereotypes, letting go of our self-limiting beliefs, or letting go of relationships or roles that are no longer fulfilling, enriching, and mutually beneficial. We’ve seen this in our own lives.
Lisa:
I’ve written before about a large pivot I made in my career over the last decade. What many people don’t know and couldn’t see at the time is the work I did in letting go before I made that leap. Letting go is a scary and necessary part of transformation.
As I looked ahead, I knew with confidence that I no longer wanted to just go through the motions of my days and weeks. I felt I was reacting to my environment and being directed by things that were external to me. I wanted transformation but didn’t know what I needed to do, or exactly where I was going - but I knew I needed a different story.
And to create that new story, I had to let go of so much of who I had been. This prompted reflection and a deep look at every dimension of my life. For the first time, really, I asked myself fundamental questions:
What do I want now?
Where do I want to focus and spend my time?
Who are the people who inspire me? And know the real me?
What am I grateful for?
What really matters to me?
Who do I want to be now?
As I reflected on these questions and answers, I was letting go. Letting go of the known, the safe. Letting go of stories and identities. I became more clear on what specifically I wanted to transform, how I wanted to do that, and what it meant to move forward with intention.
I moved from a corporate executive to an entrepreneur. From a sporadic focus on my health to making it my top priority. From doing many things that others wanted to focusing on a select few that aligned with my intention. And in navigating my own transformation and return, I can now help clients do the same.
Kathleen:
A foundational transformation for me was letting go of outdated beliefs. For years – for DECADES – I’d told myself that I wasn’t good at math. So many young girls have been taught to believe this. This belief became so ingrained in me that I turned down job offers, believing that the fact that I was “bad at math” would impact my career.
Oh the irony that my career really took off when I learned to leverage metrics and data to validate the HR initiatives I was working on! My ability to quantify results using data and analytics became a turning point in my career. As a young recruiter, I was able to share retention and time to fill data that, at the time, was novel. We used this data to improve the hiring practices at the company, and my work garnered the attention of the senior leadership team.
Too many times, our stories and beliefs are so ingrained that it’s hard to dislodge them. It wasn’t until my manager pointed out how valuable the data was to revamping our recruiting process that I began to believe in my analytical skills. He helped me get past my “old tapes” that said I was no good at data and math. Recall the allies we referenced last month? They play an important role!
Part of what makes transformation scary is the uncertainty about what’s next.
As change leaders and influencers, we often operate with a bit of a leap of faith. We know the current state isn’t working, and are willing to make changes to a new and potentially undefined future state.
A client refers to these as “trapeze moments”, which is such a vivid description: that moment when you’ve let go of one thing, but have not yet grasped the other – and are flying through the air! How does the trapeze artist grasp that next bar so fluidly?
Discipline, practice, intention, and confidence: the same skills that leaders need to demonstrate.
Here’s a truth about transformation: as uncomfortable as it may be, transformation opens us up to new possibilities. The process of letting go, and living with intention opens new pathways. Transformation inspires creativity, ingenuity, and innovation.
If you’re interested in exploring Transformation on a new level, join us:
Our next Mastermind series starts in June “I’ve done roundtables before and this blew me away in orchestration and impact – we truly went on a journey.” We still have a few open spots. Join us for a six-week journey as we explore The Hero’s Journey and your own transformation. Find inspiration, build your community, and make the second half of 2021 impactful. Learn more here.
We’d love to work with you 1x1:
Experience what it’s like to have the extraordinary support of your own executive coach. So many of our clients are doing the deep work of transformation – and that work is far less scary with support. Reach out to Kathleen or Lisa to discuss how 1x1 coaching can make all the difference to what you’d like to explore or achieve.
Or….start looking at your 2022 travel calendar:
Go deep for a week. Join our waitlist to be the first to know when we, once again, schedule our signature Leadership Immersion Retreats. We bring women together to find the inspiration, ideas, and insights that only come when you step away from your normal routine with the space to reflect and grow. 2020’s schedule was Florence, Santa Fe and Napa – and we’re looking at the 2022 calendar now. Join our waitlist to see what’s coming.
All the best in YOUR transformation!
Kathleen and Lisa
